2024 in Review

It was a great year with a lot of time spent at work, serving in Church callings and at the temple, visiting with family and friends, hiking, and exploring some new places! I could have been more focused in my study and learning this year and need to work on my goals for this year better in the coming year, but I'm grateful for all the opportunities and experiences of 2024.

Service

I finished my service as ward Relief Society president in July.  It was a wonderful learning experience that opened my eyes to needs and situations I wouldn't have known, and expanded my heart in multiple ways.  It has also helped me look for those that might need a visit or someone to sit by them or talk to them.  I'm enjoying continued visits with neighbors without the stress of planning for events and all that a Relief Society president worries about.

I also helped with a couple of Christmas events.  I love hosting at the Festival of Trees each year and this year I helped to coordinate part of our stake/community nativity event.  I learned a lot and am grateful for the chance to celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Temples

I attended 13 new temples this year:  Orem Utah, Fort Lauderdale Florida, Orlando Florida, Red Cliffs Utah, Feather River California, Sacramento California, Taylorsville Utah, Layton Utah, Raleigh North Carolina, Richmond Virginia, Hartford Connecticut, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and Deseret Peak Utah.  I've decided to make a goal to attend 100 different temples before I turn 50 (that's a little less than 5 years to get to 31 more).  It's an amazing time to be alive when more and more temples are being dedicated and available for so many more people all across the world to make covenants, receive ordinances, serve ancestors, and worship God!  I also visited a few temples I hadn't been to for a while and love (St. George Utah, Washington D.C., Portland Oregon, Mount Timpanogos, and Bountiful), which was wonderful!  

I had the unique and wonderful privilege of attending the Orem Utah Temple dedication and the Manti Utah Temple rededication.  These were special occasions. 

I love working as an ordinance worker again.  I started again in February at the Draper Utah Temple and it's a blessing to spend Saturday nights helping people to receive eternal blessings and joy.  

I personally performed 200 ordinances this year for 120 different ancestors.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life and the opportunity it provides to serve others in a meaningful way.  

Traveling

I'm really grateful for opportunities to travel!  I learn so much when I can explore a new place, and I had some really wonderful adventures this year, some with family, one trip with a friend, and three solo trips that I really quite enjoyed.  Here were some highlights this year:

• Florida -- In January, I flew to Fort Lauderdale to attend the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple.  I haven't spent much time in Florida, so it was fun to drive up the coast and explore a little bit on my way to the Orlando Florida Temple.  I drove out to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Station before flying home.  My way home consisted of a missed flight and overnight in Denver before about 12 hours in St. George to spend time with my parents and go to the Red Cliffs Utah Temple open house.  It was nice to take the shuttle home and enjoy a book on the way back.
• St. George -- In March, for Easter, I made one more trip to St. George, via Manti to see the Manti Utah Temple open house.  While in St. George I attended the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple and the Red Cliffs Utah Temple with mom.  It was so nice to enjoy time there and with my parents.  Luckily, the weather was good enough to make another trip to St. George for Thanksgiving.  It was nice to spend time with Mom and Dad and Cari's family for the holiday.
• California -- In May, I flew to Sacramento with a friend for a couple of days to attend the Feather River California Temple and the Sacramento California Temple.  We also drove down to Modesto to see the play "Come From Away" that was playing there that weekend.  We also drove by the Modesto California Temple site.  
• North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. -- In July, it was fun to spend a couple of days in Washington, D.C.  I walked around the Mall and the city twice, after having attended the renovated Washington, D.C. Temple which was so nice!  I love that special place and city!  I started the trip in Raleigh, North Carolina where I attended the temple and then drove up to the Richmond Virginia Temple.  They were both so wonderful!  Such peaceful and beautiful places!  And it's a lovely drive through the trees the whole way.  This is a wonderful part of the country!
• Oregon -- In August, I spent my birthday and Labor Day weekend in Portland with Josh, Kirsten, Lia, and got to meet baby Miles.  He's darling!!  Highlight!  We drove out to the coast, visited Oceanside and Tunnel Beach, had dinner at Tillamook, and I even got to go to the Portland Oregon Temple again.  Love that place!
• Colorado -- In September, I spent a few days with my parents in Snowmass Village and Aspen, Colorado.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  The fall colors were perfect!  Dad and I hiked to Buckskin Pass a couple miles past Maroon Bells and Crater Lake.  It was amazing!!!  The next day we drove up to Ashcroft (an old ghost town) and took some pictures and then rode e-bikes up to Maroon Bells again.  Amazing!  Saturday morning (before the afternoon rains and exciting BYU football game), Dad and I drove up to Independence Pass and hiked most of the way to Independence Lake before it started to flurry.  It was a BEAUTIFUL fall scene!  We also walked through the ghost town of Independence, hiked to Weller Lake, and walked around the Grottos.  We attended sacrament meeting in the Aspen Branch and then drove home via Moab, with a quick stop at Double Arch and Dead Horse Point State Park.
• Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio -- In October, I spent a beautiful fall weekend driving across Pennsylvania.  I flew into Hartford and attended the Hartford Connecticut Temple, and stopped at the Wilford Woodruff birthplace, before driving to Ricketts Glen State Park to explore some of the waterfalls, and then drive on to Williamsport where I spent the night.  I stopped to see the Little League World Series Complex and then drove on to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, and then to the Kirtland Temple.  I toured the Joseph and Emma Smith home, walked around the temple grounds and Kirtland town area, as well as the Morley Farm.  I went to see the sunset over Lake Erie.  I went to church at the Hiram Ward and then toured the Johnson Farm in Hiram before going back to the temple for a tour there and at the Whitney store.  On a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was sweet to explore these areas and think of the sacrifices and growth and blessings the Lord poured out and continues to send.  I was struck by the faith and goodness of Joseph Smith and others who unequivocally put the Lord first and followed His direction without question and hesitation.  We can continue today to choose Him and follow where He leads.
• Hawaii -- It was another lovely week leading up to Christmas in Kailua.  This time I got to see Matt's family for a few days, and spend time with Mom and Dad and Josh's family who were also in town then.  The highlight was the daily sunrise beach walks, Christmas caroling with family to friends, Church, being with family.  What a dream!

Hiking

I think my favorite hike this year was with Dad to Buckskin Pass in Aspen, Colorado, on a beautiful fall day!  Desolation Lake the next week with Cari was also a highlight and gorgeous!  I loved Lake Blanche with some co-workers on Juneteenth.  And Albion Basin is always a highlight all of July!  I made it to Cecret Lake a couple of times and Lake Catherine a couple of times, too.  Willow Heights Lake and Bell Canyon Reservoir are beautiful in all seasons.

Reading

I read too much this year--122 books (including several children's books and 16 audio books, which aren't my favorite--I can't remember or follow quite as well when I'm listening; I like to hold an actual book in my hand--but it is nice when you're driving a ways).  Here are some of my favorites:

• The Joy of Movement
• Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
• Establishing Zion: Foundations for a Millennial Society
• Faith: A Journey for All
• The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt
• Saints #4: Sounded in Every Ear (1955-2020)
• The Rock of Our Redeemer: Facing the Future with Faith, Hope, and Power
• Habits of a Peacemaker: 10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues
• Both Things Are True
• Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith
• May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life
• Crucial Influence: Leadership Skills to Create Lasting Behavior Change
• The Paris Daughter
• Filled with His Love: Strengthening Our Attachment to God and to Others
• Just Add Water: My Swimming Life
• The Secret Life of Flora Lea
• Jane of Lantern Hill
• The Last Love Note
• To Always Have His Spirit
• Four Thousand Weeks
• Tree. Table. Book.
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
• Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
• Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age
• Mostly What God Does
• The Amen Affect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World
• Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Lives
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
• The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
• Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue: from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• The Women
• Where Courage Calls
• Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People
• The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age-Crisis--and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance
• The Second Coming of the Lord
• Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World
• Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning
• The Unexpected Deliverer
• Enough
• When Tomorrow Comes
• Outlive
• The Wish
• The Warsaw Orphan (I listened to this one, but need to go back and read it--my favorite audio book this year)
• Spells for Lost Things
• The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times
• Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
• Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall
• How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
• Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
• All the World

Of course, the best and most important book I'm always reading, and with a little more focus and study this year, is the Book of Mormon.  I read it twice.  Once focusing on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Disciples of Jesus Christ:

• recognize God's hand in their life and know He is with them
• pray always, speak with the Lord
• obediently follow God's directions
• offer sacrifice and thanks to God
• keep the commandments with steadfastness
• desire to know and diligently seek to understand the mysteries of God
• trust God and do as He commands
• encourage others to be faithful and obedient and come to Jesus Christ
• follow the Spirit, not always knowing beforehand what they'll do
• receive strength and courage from the Lord
• are filled with joy and hope and trust in God's promises
• forgive
• press forward continually holding fast to the iron rod
• heed not the wicked
• hearken to voice of the Lord and His prophets
• look unto God and praise Him, even in afflictions
• read, teach, testify of Christ
• have faith in Jesus Christ
• are determined and persevere
• seek the glory of God and welfare of others
• invite others to look to and come to Jesus
• know Who they trust and wait for the Lord
• know the covenants of the Lord and His wisdom, mercy, goodness, power
• abhor sin, seek righteousness
• remember the words of God
• delight in the Lord and His covenants
• counsel together
• sanctify the Lord
• believe in Christ
• labor diligently to persuade others to believe in Christ and look forward to Him
• talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, prophesy of Christ, write according to prophecies
• have charity
• invite all to come
• believe in a God of miracles
• be meek, have joy in the Lord
• repent
• humbly follow Christ
• receive the Holy Ghost
• think of brethren like selves, serve fellow beings
• seek the kingdom of God
• look to God with firmness of mind and pure hearts
• lift up heads and feast on His love
• love families
• seek not to counsel the Lord but are reconciled to Him
• nourish their own faith and the vineyard
• labor with diligence
• enter at straight gate and continue in the way
• offer whole souls to Christ, fasting, praying, enduring to the end
• receive His words
• beware of contention and pride
• yield to Spirit and put off the natural man, becoming a saint through Christ--as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to Father
• know goodness of God
• believe and do--repent and retain a remission of sins by calling on His name in faith
• live peaceably, walking in truth and loving and serving others
• administer of substance
• remember to retain Jesus's name written in heart
• are steadfast and immovable, abounding in good works
• turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart
• apply hearts to understanding
• believe words of prophets and flee wickedness
• repent, are baptized, and filled with grace of God
• look forward with one eye and hearts knit together in love one towards another
• observe the Sabbath
• give thanks
• labor with own hands
• impart of substance
• establish peace
• bear His name
• are instruments in hands of God
• walk in the ways of the Lord
• establish the Church
• remember the captivity of fathers
• are spiritually born of God and have His image in countenance
• exercise faith in redemption of Christ and look forward with faith
• come to Him, fearing not and laying aside every sin
• labor in the Spirit
• stand with boldness
• remember words of the prophets
• prepare to meet God
• teach His commandments
• preach repentance
• humble selves and call on His holy name
• have all things equal
• have courage
• expound plan of redemption
• call on name of the Lord
• rejoice and praise God, glory in the Lord
• observe commandments and ordinances
• desire to believe, plant word in hearts
• have faith, are humble and patient and charitable
• improve time while in this life
• remember Jesus
• are diligent in fulfilling His words
• abhor wickedness
• counsel with the Lord in all doings
• prepare strongholds
• are valiant and true
• stand fast in liberty
• trust God will deliver them
• seek not for power
• gather together
• build upon rock of Redeemer, Jesus Christ
• preach with power and authority
• declare His word that people may have eternal life
• open ears, listen, hearken, seek to understand
• come and see and feel Him, are healed and saved
• hold up His light
• don't judge
• beware of false prophets
• watch and pray always
• pray for Holy Ghost
• search scriptures
• teach and minister
• love God
• hearken to words of the Lord
• are wise
• ask, believe
• do good
• commend selves unto God
• walk humbly before the Lord
• have faith in Christ
• seek Jesus
• meet together, fast, pray, speak concerning welfare of souls
• have faith, hope, and charity
• search diligently in light of Christ
• labor diligently to conquer enemy of all righteousness
• are faithful in Christ
• remember how merciful the Lord has been, receive His words and know truth by Holy Ghost
• deny not the gifts of God and lay hold upon every good thing which comes of God
• awake and arise
• come unto Christ and be perfected in Him denying yourself of all ungodliness
• love God with all your might, mind, and strength

The Right Way is to Believe in Christ

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony today of our Savior Jesus Christ, His mission, His ministry, and His gospel… and the hope that it brings each one of us. 

Twenty years ago, this very day, was my first full day in the mission field.  I was on the other side of the world and excited to learn and to share.  I was humbled, and overwhelmed, and felt inadequate, but I was full of faith in Him and grateful for the message of joy and hope we were sharing.  Of the places I've visited and people I've met in my life since then, Korea and Koreans still hold a special place in my heart. ;)

One thing I heard a number of times as a missionary, and something I'm sure many of you have heard in other places and situations in your life (and maybe increasingly so today), is the idea that... all roads lead to the top of the mountain... it doesn't really matter which one you take or what you believe.  As someone who enjoys hiking, I don't mind a new trail every now and then, but today I'd like to share with you my firm testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ who truly is "THE way, the truth, and the life."[i]

As I was turning the page in the Come, Follow Me manual last week (after having studied Moroni 1-6), I noticed that the title of the lesson for those chapters was… "to keep them in the right way."  I hadn't focused on that phrase in my study, but it caught my attention because I had just read 2 Nephi 25:28-29, which says:  "... the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.  And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul."[ii]

This was also an important part of Moroni's message: "I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ... None were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.... their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way..."[iii]

There are many things we think about and strive to do, even as disciples of Christ, but these verses helped remind me of the simple, plain, straight, and narrow way.  As we believe in Christ and deny Him not, we are "in the right way."  He will be the author and finisher of our faith.  As we press forward, steadfastly focused on Him, we can have eternal life.  I'm grateful to know that path, that trail, the right way... even Jesus Christ. 

So, what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ and to deny Him not?  What does it mean to take His name upon us and serve him with determination to the end?  I think for each one of us there may be a slightly different answer in any given moment... something the Spirit teaches us to focus on... but, in general, I think believing in Christ includes…  

·         learning of Him (who He is, what He does, why He does it), 

·         striving to hear His words and the voice of the prophets,

·         seeking and following the Spirit’s direction,

·         keeping His commandments,

·         remembering Him always,

·         making and keeping covenants,

·         having a broken heart and a contrite spirit,

·         humbly striving to know and do His will,

·         looking for His hand, His handiwork, and His miracles all around us,

·         acknowledging His blessings, His grace, His mercy, His justice,

·         desiring to follow Him,

·         repenting,

·         coming to Him with our concerns,

·         trusting Him and relying on Him,

·         courageously standing as a witness of Him and His goodness,

·         not losing hope in His promises to us,

·         avoiding distractions and keeping Him the focus and most important priority in our lives,

·         rejoicing in Him,

·         sharing our hope in Him with others,

·         looking for ways to love and minister,

·         going about doing good,

·         working diligently,

·         remembering the great things He has done for us and those that have gone before,

·         praying always,

·         giving thanks in all things,

·         inviting others to come to Him,

·         and remaining steadfast in faith in Him.

President Nelson gave a talk at BYU in August 1998 titled "Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ.”  In this talk he identifies our Savior’s two objectives as (1) His mission and (2) His ministry.  President Nelson teaches that Jesus’ mission was His Atonement.  He refers to 3 Nephi 27:13-14 as the Lord’s mission statement, when Jesus said: “I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”

I love that clarity!  Jesus' mission was the Atonement; it was why He came to earth.  Isaiah reminds us that “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”[iv]  Without Jesus fulfilling His mission there would be no hope for us.  But He did and there is hope!  He is hope! 

Prophets had this hope before Jesus was born.  I love King Benjamin’s testimony of the Savior’s mission.  In Mosiah 3, he shares with his people what an angel taught him.  The angel said: “I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy… For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases… And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning… And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; … And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”[v]

The angel’s teachings not only testify of the Savior’s Atonement, but also Jesus’ second objective that President Nelson identifies as His ministry.  Beyond His mission of the Atonement, Jesus also offered an example of the importance of love, ordinances, prayer, knowledge, and enduring to the end.  After discussing each of these, President Nelson says this:  "Surely the best evidence of our adoration of Jesus is our emulation of him."[vi]  I love that!  Jesus Christ is the only way.  He also showed us the way.  The best way we can show our love for Him is by trying to follow Him and be like Him. 

I appreciated the #LighttheWorld invitation earlier this month to identify Christlike examples around us.  That invitation helped me pause to think about some of the attributes and characteristics of the Savior and then recognize where I see them in others.  It also made me think about what it means to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ heals, He is an advocate and mediator, He offers peace, He finds stillness, He creates beauty, He is obedient, He is humble, He is kind, He is steadfast and immovable, He is meek, He is merciful, He is just, He feeds the hungry, He visits the sick, He sits with one person, He listens, He teaches, He sees people and their needs, He helps others see, He gives His time, He has compassion, He blesses, He prays, He seeks to know and do His Father’s will, He calms, He forgives, He waits patiently, He cheers, He frees us, He fulfills, He calls, He softens hearts, He cares, He mourns with friends, He comforts, He strengthens, He eases burdens, He gathers people, He remembers, He loves, He touches, He walks with us, He comes, He invites us to come, He brings light, He leads, He delivers, and He lifts us up! 

These are also characteristics I observe in family members, friends, and others…  

·       I will never forget a sweet experience I had when visiting my brother’s family in New York City a few years ago.  We were on the subway and someone on our car was asking for money.  Most were ignoring this man’s pleas.  My sweet 4-year-old nephew happened to have a dime or a nickel in his hand and kept watching this man with real concern.  He didn’t say anything but turned to look at his mom a couple of times and after a few seconds of thinking about what to do, he walked across the car and handed this coin to this man.  Suddenly everyone seemed to be paying attention.  The spirit in that entire section of the car was lifted.  This man and everyone nearby couldn’t help but smile.  Obviously, this dime or nickel wasn’t going to save him, but someone seeing him seemed to bless all of us.

·       I also think of my sister and brother-in-law who show up when they know I need help—whether that’s spending a couple of hours putting together a treadmill or bringing their children by to brighten my day from the car windows. 

·       I think of my parents who share light with everyone on their path—whether that’s listening to me, being positive and kind to everyone they meet, or sharing with others.

·       I think of my aunt who had brain surgery earlier this year.  Things haven’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped, but she continues forward rejoicing in the Lord and His goodness.

·       I think of friends who pray for each other and send uplifting and encouraging text messages.

·       I think of health care and other essential workers this year who have offered kindness and hope in difficult times.

I'm grateful for good examples.  I'm grateful for His example and goodness.  I hope we can each see people around us being like Jesus and maybe even share with them those Christlike attributes we observe.  Then, with His help, we can work to incorporate these attributes and characteristics in our lives, too.  Like Moroni invited us this week, we can “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with [His] love.”[vii]

In October 2017, Elder Christofferson taught, “As we partake of the sacramental bread and water… we would do well to consider how fully and completely we must incorporate His character and the pattern of His sinless life into our life and being… We cannot be content to remain as we are but must be moving constantly toward ‘the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.’”[viii]  And President Howard W. Hunter once taught, “The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force.”[ix]  

In the last general conference Elder Scott D. Whiting taught, “Becoming as Jesus Christ is will require changing our hearts and minds, indeed, our very character, and doing so is possible only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ… Christlike attributes are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to bless us and those around us. Accordingly, our efforts to obtain these attributes will require heartfelt pleas for His divine assistance.”[x]

President Hunter gave some wonderful examples of becoming more like Jesus Christ, when he invited us in a 1994 Christmas message to… “Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”[xi]

All of these are examples of believing in Christ and denying Him not, helping us to “stay in the right way.” 

I love the Book of Mormon and the powerful witness it provides that Jesus is the Christ!  During this uniquely challenging year, I have been so grateful to be studying it more deeply.  Its teachings of Jesus Christ and His mission and His ministry have provided peace and direction and an increase of the Spirit in my life. 

I’d like to close today with the beautiful story of Christmas as told in 3 Nephi 1.  Here we find powerful examples of people who, like Moroni, would not deny the Christ.  They were watching for the sign of Jesus’ birth here on the American continent: “Behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night...  Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet. Now… when Nephi... saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful. And… he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith… And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”[xii]

In April 2017, President Nelson taught, “True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world.  They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous… There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples.  Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel.  It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought.  But, when we do, our doubts and fears flee.”[xiii]

I testify that Jesus Christ did come.  He was born in a humble place.  He came to do the Father’s will.  He came to save all of us.  He came to provide the way for us to return home to our Heavenly Father.  He came to set an example for us to follow.  We can find joy and peace as we diligently strive to follow Him, stand as witnesses of Him, and share the blessings of His gospel and our Heavenly Father’s plan with others.  He invites each one of us to come unto Him.  When we do, He promises to walk with us and show us the way.  I know He lives and loves us.  I know He is the way, the truth, and the life and that every good thing comes from Him, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

---

[i] John 14:6.

[ii] 2 Nephi 25:28-29.

[iii] Moroni 1:4, 6:3-4.

[iv] Isaiah 53:6.

[v] Mosiah 3:2-17.

[vi] Russell M. Nelson, “Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ,” BYU Devotional, Aug. 18, 1998.

[vii] Moroni 7:48.

[viii] D. Todd Christofferson, “The Living Bread Which Came Down from Heaven,” General Conference, Oct. 2017.

[ix] Howard W. Hunter, “The Real Christmas,” BYU Devotional, Dec. 5, 1972.

[x] Scott D. Whiting, “Becoming like Him,” General Conference, Oct. 2020.

[xi] Howard W. Hunter, “The Gifts of Christmas,” First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Dec. 4, 1994.

[xii] 3 Nephi 1:8-13.

[xiii]  Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” General Conference, Apr. 2017.

40!

I made it over the hill, 23 miles of hill, one of my favorite hills in fact.  I'm grateful for my family that helped me get there.  To be honest, thinking of turning 40 was hard for me.  My family was very sweet and helped plan something they knew I would love--hiking and being with them in one of my favorite places! ;)

With my very patient and kind mother as the driver and goodie bag party planner and best supporter, my dad and three siblings and I set out on Saturday, August 31 for an all-day hike from Driggs, Idaho to Jenny Lake, Wyoming.  This same group of five did this same hike together 15 years earlier.  It was fun to be together to do it again.  It was as great as I remembered, with just a few more blisters.  It's a beautiful walk up to the Teton Crest Trail and Alaska Basin, right past the Grand Teton, and then down Cascade Canyon into Teton National Park.

I'm grateful for thoughtful and generous parents, supportive siblings, and a kind brother-in-law and sisters-in-law who not only helped make this adventure happen, but are always so kind and supportive and loving along this whole adventure called life.  It's such a blessing to have such a fun, happy, willing, and good team helping to encourage and lift and cheer all along the way! ;)